Gareth Ainsworth reveals inspiration behind Shrewsbury Town's comeback win over Mansfield

When the Town players returned to the dressing room at half-time on Saturday, they were right up against it. 

Mansfield were leading 1-0 thanks to Will Evans' goal in the fifth minute, and to make matters worse, they were down to 10 men after centre-back Toto Nsiala was sent off shortly before the break.

Goals from George Lloyd and John Marquis saw Salop stage an astonishing turnaround at the Croud Meadow to register a 2-1 victory.

The Salop head coach admitted things had not gone to plan for his side in the first period but revealed what he said to his team at the break to inspire the remarkable comeback.

"The big thing was not to focus on that at half-time, not to focus on what we were doing wrong," Ainsworth said. "It was to tell them what they were doing right. 

"We said 'Has anyone ever played in a team at half-time with 10 men that is losing and gone on to win?' 

"Every single player said I have done that. So I said 'Well, we do this now.'

"Every single one of them believed. George Lloyd ran his absolute socks off; he was the outlet down the sides, and what we planned with 11 men we managed to pull off with 10. 

"I have had to give them Monday off. I will say I am proud to do that because it does not happen very often. 

"They have given everything. John is coming off with cuts on his head. Gapey (Dominic Gape) had another solid game - there was one little issue that I gave him a little telling off for. 

"But everything else, getting George Nurse on the pitch, I wanted to get Ships (Jordan Shipley) and the two young boys. 

"But the win belonged to everyone in that dressing room. I said to them before the game that this is it now. There might be one or two coming in, but this is the squad that is going to keep us up. 

"We talked about set pieces at half-time because when you have 10 men they can really be a leveller. What a quality cross from Josh Feeney to the back post. 

"It comes away from the keeper. He does not know whether to stick or twist, and there is your skipper, that is where you need to be. 

"After all that we have gone through this week, I am so pleased for the boys because they have worked their socks off, and they thoroughly deserved the win."